Lead a Healthier Life: Take the 30-day Detox Challenge

Detoxing Negativity and Uncertainty

In order to eliminate some undo stress in my life, I have decided to take a “30-Day Detox Challenge”. Each month I will identify a poisonous substance that influences negative or ill thoughts, feelings, or experiences in my life. After identifying the action or thought that is toxic, I will concentrate on removing the toxic influence and taking the necessary steps towards forgiveness. My hopes are that this journey will provide me with a new outlook on life.

The year was 1999 and I was struggling with some personal decisions in my life. I was questioning whether or not I had made the right choices about my future. My mom, the most unselfish woman I know, told me that “we are our own worst critics.” At the time, I took this phrase to mean that she was supporting my decisions and that I needed to have more confidence in the choices that I make. I never truly understood the power of that phrase until I began this reflection.

As I sat here contemplating which of the negative influences in my life I wanted to focus on first, I realized that the most important first step is to focus on my internal feelings towards myself. I think now I truly understand the meaning of the compelling phrase that my mom once taught me. How could I possibly need to be reminded of the “good” in my life? I am a successful woman with strong convictions. I have a loving family, and beautiful, healthy children. Still every day I question whether I could be doing more.

Recently some words and feelings were shared in my family that made me take a long look at my intentions as a parent, wife, and adult. I began to question how I feel about others and most importantly how I feel about myself. For this reason, I have decided to focus on the positive influences I receive from others in my life. Most importantly, I am not going to question myself anymore.

For the next 30 days, I am going to wake up every morning and say something positive about myself. I will remind myself each day how lucky I am and will be sure to not think any negative thoughts about myself. The toxin that I will remove in my life is negativity and uncertainty I feel about myself and my life. After all, life is what we make of it.